The Bachelor 1787

"The Bachelor," is an etching by Samuel Alken dating back to the late 18th or early 19th century, a period marked by significant social and political upheaval. Alken’s work depicts the perceived comforts of bachelorhood, but through a critical lens. We see a man reclined in a state of disarray. His companion looks on, a pipe in hand, while a mother and child stand nearby, visually disrupting any notion of peace and independence the bachelor might claim. The composition and details of the etching reflect the social anxieties surrounding marriage and domestic life. The bachelor’s state might be read as a critique of masculinity of the time. Is it capable of true independence or happiness outside of the family unit? "The Bachelor" uses satire to explore complex relationships between personal choice and social expectations. It confronts us with the emotional and societal trade-offs inherent in choosing to live outside traditional family structures.